Huntsville to play major role in 2014 winter games

WINTER GAMES

MUSKOKA – The 2014 Ontario Winter Games will put Huntsville in the limelight.
Greg Pilling, the games general manager, spoke to Huntsville town council on Dec. 20 about the games, which will be held in Muskoka and the surrounding area from Thursday, Feb. 27, to Sunday, March 2.
“On Feb. 27, we’ll have our opening ceremonies at the Gravenhurst Wharf,” said Pilling. “And a few of the sports kick-off that day – hockey being one of them here at the Canada Summit Centre.”
He said 2,188 athletes would compete in 27 sports over the four days.
In addition, the event would bring hundreds of coaches and officials as well as thousands of volunteers and spectators to the area.
Pilling said the Town of Bracebridge is the official host of the games this year, but events will be held in Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Lake of Bays, Muskoka Lakes, Orillia, Barrie, Midland and Oro Medonte.
He said the majority of the events would be held in Huntsville.
Events and participants, which include athletes, coaches, managers officials and sports representatives, coming to Huntsville include:
• Wheelchair basketball at Huntsville High School from Friday to Sunday with 69 participants;
• Wrestling at Deerhurst Resort from Thursday to Saturday with 226 participants;
• Men’s hockey in the Canada Summit Centre’s Jack Bionda Arena from Thursday to Sunday with 204 participants;
• Speed skating in the Canada Summit Centre’s Don Lough Arena from Thursday to Saturday;
• Air pistol at Muskoka Bible Camp from Friday to Saturday with 37 participants;
• Women’s hockey in the Baysville Arena from Friday to Saturday and the Canada Summit Centre’s Don Lough Arena on Sunday with 214 participants.
“In total, for Huntsville, there will be 863 participants,” said Pilling. “We’re using 14 separate venue locations here in Huntsville. And we’re expecting another 1,500 spectators to come into town, stay here, eat here, enjoy our community and shop at all the great shops we have in town.”
He noted the Ontario Games series is a program of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport with Sport Alliance Ontario as the contracted delivery agent. The series includes four sets of games, including summer, winter, parasport and 55-plus.
The 2014 Ontario Winter Games has a $1.2-million budget with revenue coming from grants, sponsorships, athlete registrations, ticket sales and merchandise.
Pilling said the organizing committee is now promoting a volunteer drive as well as a sponsorship drive.
“Our next step is to bring on the games,” he added.
Mayor Claude Doughty said he is looking forward to seeing speed skating in the Olympic-sized Don Lough Arena. “We should have an opportunity for the public to try that after the speed skaters are done and before the (safety) pads go away. Just for an hour,” he said. “I think it would be fun. I think maybe we should have a little council competition.”
Councillors chuckled around the table.
Those interested in volunteering can learn more at www.ontariowintergames.com.
And those interested in sponsoring the games can contact the games office at 705-394-4600.